Medical Assistance Programs Offered by Charities

There are a number of charities worldwide that focus specifically on medical assistance programs. Some of these charities are very small, but do incredibly significant work, such as delivering immunization programs or hearing aids. Others are huge charities known across the world. Two of the most famous ones are the British Red Cross and the French Medecins Sans Frontieres. Let’s take a look at what these two do.
The Red Cross
One of the first things the Red Cross do is train people in the community in emergency first aid. This is what can truly save people’s lives. Additionally, they provide emergency response systems in disaster zones, be they in developed or war-torn countries. They also focus on health and social care, as well as on helping families get reunited. They also assist governments in preparing for impending disasters. One of their biggest medical assistance programs is refugee assistance. They provide tents, hygiene facilities, medical help and more. Finally, they work in terms of protecting people in armed conflict and they also teach people to take over this work.
Medecins Sans Frontieres
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is also known as Doctors without Borders. The organization was founded in France, although it is now both a federal and international organization. They deliver humanitarian aid and are non-governmental. They often work in war-torn areas or in those countries were endemic diseases start to appear. The organization as a whole is a Nobel Peace Price laureate.
At present, some 26,000 deliver services for MSF in at least 60 different countries. They work as medical professionals such as doctors and nurses, but also as engineers (mainly for sanitation and water), as logistical experts or as administrators. The main focus, of course, is medical help. All of these people work as volunteers. 80% of the funding is received through private funding, with the rest coming from corporate and governmental donations. The annual budget for the charity is around $400 million.
For more information, visit map.org/.